A song by Larry Long… “a true American troubadour”

A quarter century ago (damn… that sounds old) I was hosting a folk music venue in an area they call Chippewa Valley of Northern Wisconsin. One night I hosted a concert for Larry Long, an artist I only knew by reputation. At the time, he made his way as an itinerant folk singer and activist. He was a guiding spirit in a movement to clean-up the Northern Mississippi River. Larry would travel by canoe from town to town putting on free concerts and soliciting help for clean-up operations. He has performed with the likes of Pete Seeger and others. Author and journalist, Studs Terkel called him “a true American troubadour.”

This song is about the tragic death of Anna Mae Aquash, AIM (American Indian Movement) activist.

It was performed for a small group of socially aware folk music lovers at our club that night. Anna Mae was the most moving song and performance that I’d ever experienced. I’m still griped to the core with anguish every time I hear it.